Sudwala Caves: A prehistoric refuge and 19th-century fortress

Situated within Precambrian dolomite rock, aged approximately 2.8 billion years, the Sudwala Caves of Mpumalanga, South Africa, were formed some 240 million years ago. One of the oldest caves in the world, these chambers echo with the whispers of early humans who may have inhabited them during the Stone Age era, spanning from 2.5 million years ago to a few thousand years B.C. The discovery of primitive stone tools indicates that early humans may have inhabited the cave during this period.

In the 19th century, Somquba, the brother of the Swazi heir apparent, used the caves as a fortress. After a skirmish with Mswati's army near the Mgwenyana River, Somquba and his followers fled to these chambers. Somquba later formed an alliance with the Lydenburg Republic in 1856-57, leading to ongoing conflict with Mswati's followers that involved raids and cattle theft. The Boers, led by Abel Erasmus, eventually liberated Somquba and his followers, leaving traces of their fires within the caves.

During the Second Boer War, the Boers stored ammunition for their 94-pounder Long Tom guns within Sudwala Caves. The caves are named after Sudwala, Somquba's chief inDuna and brother, whose spirit is legendarily said to linger in the Caves. The Sudwalaskraal farm that is home to the caves was purchased in 1965 by Philippus Rudolf Owen, who opened the caves as a tourist attraction. Inside, the Miriam Makeba Hall is a large amphitheatre with a diameter of 70 metres and a height of 37 metres, maintaining a constant temperature of 17 °C.

In July 1970, Ivan Rebroff gave a concert within the Miriam Makeba Hall. However, the concerts were discontinued in 2002 due to vandalism and resumed in 2006. In 2012, Chris Chameleon performed in the caves alongside the Drakensberg Boys' Choir. The local Stevenson-Hamilton Pipe Band also performed within the caves in 2013. Today, the Sudwala Caves remain a popular tourist destination in Mpumalanga, with one-hour tours of the cave and a monthly five-hour-long Crystal Tour that takes visitors 2000 metres through the cave, culminating at a chamber that bears aragonite crystals and the Sudwala Star.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons